Sonic booms created by Israeli warplanes speeding
across the sky are having the unintended consequence of launching
hibernating crocodiles into mating mode, the daily Maariv reported
on Sunday.
According to the newspaper, each time warplanes break the sound
barrier over a crocodile breeding farm in the Golan Heights, the
randy reptiles begin emitting their ritual mating cry.
"The powerful squealing noises, reminiscent of the sound of a
car braking, can be heard from hundreds of metres (yards) around,"
David Golan, head of crocodile breeding at the Hamat Gader park,
told Maariv.
The calls appeared to be a response to the sonic booms, which
seemed to convince the crocodiles that other males had begun making
mating signals, the newspaper said.
There are around 100 crocodiles at the park, which is underneath
airspace used by the Israeli air force for training runs.
A population boom is not expected, however, because the male
crocs are all bark and no bite.
Despite issuing their signature mating calls when the planes
break the sound barrier, there has been no uptick in actual
breeding -- and the "official" mating season does not begin until
the summer.